"No..."
Yae Sakura couldn't help but let out a low, trembling whisper.
"I can't... Kallen..." She looked toward Kallen, her eyes swirling with a deep, frantic sense of helplessness.
"I don't want... to lose you again..."
"Sakura..." Kallen gazed back at her. Her expression was resolute, yet she shook her head gently with a look of profound complexity. "I still have a mission to finish. I have to put an end to all of this."
"Is that so..."
Sakura lowered her head in silence. Her entire spirit seed to wither away, her vitality draining as if through an open wound.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
You can't just lose your fighting spirit like that!
Seeing her like this, Kallen felt a sudden pang of panic. She didn't want Sakura's ntal defenses to crumble because of her—that would be an open invitation for Higokumaru to seize control!
"But... we still have seven days, don't we?" Kallen reached out and gently took Sakura's hand, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "During these seven days... I want to hear it all. I want to know how you and I... t and fell in love five hundred years ago."
As those words left her lips, the light in Sakura's eyes flickered back to life.
Kallen breathed a silent sigh of relief.
"Ahem."
Hiko, who had been standing by quietly until now, gave a sharp, dry cough. She looked at Kallen with a serious expression. "Before we get ahead of ourselves... Kallen, we need to collect so blood samples from you. We have to confirm that your blood isn't carrying anything contagious."
"...Alright."
Kallen nodded, agreeing without hesitation. Her expression didn't shift in the slightest.
In the lab, the researchers—who had clearly seen enough drama to last a lifeti—stepped forward. They efficiently drew the necessary blood samples from Kallen's arm.
"Until the results are in, you'll stay here at St. Freya High. You can live with us."
"Okay," Kallen replied with another quiet nod.
"Great! We'll get a room ready for you right now!" Theresa added quickly, her eyes full of earnest intent.
"Principal," Sakura said, turning to Theresa with a hint of a plea in her voice. "Could Kallen... stay in my room with ?"
"Eh?"
Theresa blinked, montarily caught off guard. She looked between Sakura and Kallen for a mont before finally giving a small nod. "Fine. I'll have soone move an extra bed into your room later."
"Thank you... Principal."
"Don't worry about it. After all, you two are a couple..."
At those words, Kallen's cheeks flushed a faint crimson. She looked away, caught in a mix of bashfulness and awkwardness. The heavy, stiff atmosphere from before had finally, completely dissolved.
Hell yeah!!!
Kallen was practically cheering in her head.
Another seven days of living with the Valkyries!
She couldn't even begin to imagine how many "perks" Sakura would accidentally throw her way during the next week!
However, as they were heading out, Kallen noticed Bronya standing off to the side. The girl was silently clutching that skin-tight suit in her arms.
Kallen felt a sudden, sharp tug at her heartstrings.
"What's... wrong with her?" Kallen asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
"Her na is Bronya." As Sakura looked at the girl, her own eyes filled with a brief flash of uncertainty and unease. "Her friend... much like you, ca from another world. But her friend has... gone back now."
Hearing this, Kallen fell silent.
Sakura subconsciously squeezed Kallen's hand a little tighter, as if terrified she might suddenly vanish into thin air as well.
"Bronya..."
Everyone's eyes turned toward the young girl.
"Bronya is fine."
Bronya gave a small shake of her head while clutching the clothes. Her silver-grey eyes remained devoid of any visible emotion. "Forgive Bronya for making everyone worry. Bronya is fine."
"..." Kallen watched her for a mont, then gently let go of Sakura's hand and stepped forward.
She reached out and softly patted Bronya's small head.
"Your friend... she'll co back."
Bronya's eyes flickered ever so slightly. "How do you know?"
"Because... people who truly matter to you don't just disappear from your world that easily. She's definitely out there, sowhere in the future, waiting to return to your side."
Kallen's gaze was steady and sincere, as if she were stating an absolute law of the universe.
In reality, she had no idea if she'd ever be able to turn back into Seele. But the Seele in the Sea of Quanta? She'd always find a way back.
Besides, maybe this "cheat" of hers would upgrade eventually. If it did, she could choose whoever she wanted to be, rather than leaving it to a random roll of the dice.
"Mm... Bronya understands." Bronya nodded slowly, hugging the clothes in her arms a little tighter.
Kallen couldn't tell if Bronya actually believed her or not. Regardless, the girl stood up and walked out of the lab, clutching the outfit close to her chest.
Ten minutes later, they were back at St. Freya.
Sakura hadn't even rested for a mont before she darted into the kitchen and began rummaging through the ingredients.
"Sakura, what are you doing?"
Kallen watched her, a look of confusion in her eyes.
"Cooking for you," Sakura replied, turning back with a tender, focused smile. "Five hundred years ago, I used to cook for you all the ti. You always said it was delicious—you ate so much every single ti."
"Is that so..."
Kallen nodded. A hint of reminiscence touched her eyes, but it was overshadowed by a blank, hazy look—the look of soone who truly couldn't rember a thing.
A wave of sorrow washed over Sakura's heart once more.
Raiden i stood back, making no move to help. She knew that right now, Sakura wanted nothing more than to prepare this feast entirely by herself.
"Let help."
Kallen looked at Sakura with a determined expression and started to walk over.
As if triggered by a sudden, traumatic flash of mory, Sakura's head snapped toward her as she shook her head frantically. "No... Kallen, please, let handle it."
"Oh. Okay. I'll just wait then."
Kallen didn't push the issue.
However, Sakura's reaction told her everything she needed to know. Clearly, Sakura had been "fortunate" enough to taste Kallen's cooking five hundred years ago.
And she had survived.
Kallen couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. The "culinary skills" of the Kaslana family were legendary—legendary enough that even Otto's Soulium bodies probably couldn't handle them.
"Kallen, why don't you... co sit in the living room for a bit?" Theresa approached, speaking to Kallen with a touch of caution.
"Okay..."
Kallen nodded gently. She looked at Theresa and offered a soft, apologetic opening. "I'm sorry... Theresa. Earlier... I mistook you for her."
"It's fine, really!" Theresa shook her head vigorously. "If it were , I probably would have done the sa thing. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up!"
"Mm..."
Kallen finally let out a smile of relief and followed Theresa into the living room to sit down.
-- --
User Comments
0 comments from readers